(Image Credit: Tom Grimsdale/Red Deer Rebels)

By Ian Gustafson

Playoff hunt

Rebels shut out Hurricanes to move into eighth place

Jan 17, 2026 | 9:40 PM

The Red Deer Rebels got back in the win column on Saturday night.

They took down their central division rival Lethbridge Hurricanes, with a 5-0 shutout in front of 4,509 fans at the Centrium.

Veteran forward Tyson Yaremko led the way with two goals and an assist; meanwhile, the Rebels put on a defensive clinic, outshooting their opponents 44-14.

Yaremko said postgame his teammates have welcomed him with open arms since he was acquired at the trade deadline earlier this month.

“It’s been a lot of new faces for me. I only knew one person coming in, but it feels like I’ve known them all for a long time,” he said. “Everyone that’s here is ready to work, and last night against Tri-City was a great game. We played really good and I think we should have come out on top, but it’s games like that we are going to learn from. We are going to win more games from that game.”

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With the victory, the Rebels overtook the Regina Pats for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 15-22-2-2 record.

Next up, they’ll play the Pats on Tuesday at the Centrium at 7 p.m., where they will attempt to build a gap from their opponents in the standings.

“I think everyone is 100 per cent in and that’s all that matters. If we go out and give it all we can every single night and win the two points that we need to, I think we’re in a good spot to make the playoffs,” Yaremko added.

@rdnewsnow

Rebels deafested the Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-0 on Saturday night Read more at rdnewsNOW.com/2026/01/17/rebels-shut-out-hurricanes-to-move-into-eighth-place/

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Meantime, head coach Marc Habscheid said he was happy with the effort from his team.

“Last night was a bit of a disappointment when we were down a few players throughout the game. Our speed was good, and I thought we attacked them pretty good and didn’t give them much room,” Habscheid said.

“We played a lot of time in their end, and our guys, when we lost the puck, we worked to get it back. We stripped a lot of puck in their end, and that’s the best way to create good defence.”

The Rebels got on the board first with a short-handed goal by Beckett Hamilton with 3:33 left in the opening period.

After the Rebels fired the puck down the ice during the penalty kill, Hamilton beat both defenders to it before he gathered the puck, made a move, and buried the opportunity.

Speed. Hands. Finish.

Beckett Hamilton on full display! #RDREBELS #WHL https://t.co/ANFtwc7ovS

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) January 18, 2026

Habscheid explained that Hamilton, at just 17 years old, has upped his game significantly since the Christmas break.

“He’s found another gear, and he’s quick, fast, possesses the puck, and makes a lot of right plays,” Habscheid said. “For a kid that young to wear the ‘A’ is quite an accomplishment. We gave it to him not because he’s 17 but because he deserves it. He’s a mature guy, and we have a lot of 17-year-olds, so he’s kind of the leader of the pack. He leads the right way too so it’s a good experience for him as well.”

The Rebels extended their lead nearly eight minutes into the second period. Forward Tyson Yaremko drove to the net alone and beat the goaltender after Kalder Varga fired the puck down ice that popped back out in front.

It marked Yaremko’s fourth goal of the season and his second in just three games in a Rebels uniform.

Hockey IQ 💯

Kalder Varga and Tyson Yaremko combine for a smart play to gain a 2-0 lead!@Rebelshockey | #RDREBELS pic.twitter.com/JPlPucFCr0

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) January 18, 2026

Later in the frame, Varga put the Rebels up 3-0 with a fantastic-looking goal in front of the net. His third goal as a Red Deer Rebel came with 2:13 left in the second.

KALDER VARGA WITH AN UNREAL PLAY 🤯@Rebelshockey | #RDREBELS | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/ZfYJ44CyTj

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) January 18, 2026

Yaremko then potted his second of the game less than a minute into the third period. He knocked in the rebound following a shot from Poul Andersen.

We think Yaremko likes Red Deer 👀#RDREBELS #WHL https://t.co/a5JZ2vdQvH

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) January 18, 2026

Rebels import forward Matej Mikes made it 5-0 after he knocked in the loose puck in the crease on the power play.

Across the line at all costs. 🚨#RDREBELS #WHL https://t.co/7ppl6G6AXm

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) January 18, 2026

The Hurricanes pushed to try and break the shutout late in the third period, but Rebels netminder Matthew Kondro stood tall with 14 saves.

Since the trade deadline, the Rebels have flipped a switch and played better hockey, which Habscheid said is due to the moves owner, Brent Sutter, made with the newly acquired speed and skill.

It will bode well for the future, but for now, they’re focused on the present and continuing to develop a young roster.

“We want to make some noise here. We’re not here to participate; we’re here to win and win championships. That’s what we’re all about,” Habscheid added. “To do that, you’ve got to get better every day, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”